Player Watch #44: Cameron Zurhaar - has re-signed until the end of 2029 - finishes 6th in the 24' SBM

[Psicosis]

I’ll personally be very surprised if he leaves. Is extremely settled in Melbourne. His best mates are at the club. He’s inseparable with Grif, CT, Tucker, Souv, Fish etc. Only way I can see him leaving is if we were to have a David Noble year.

His management will just be trying the best long term deal they can out of us. They held off last time also to maximise the contract $$$.

 

[gustaaf]

I never used to mind the Swans too much and had sympathy for the South supporters who effectively lost their club. After the never ending support from the AFl going back yonks they lost my sympathy and now they are outright sh1tt1ing me. Continuing to get the never ending benefits from their academy despite being a well established and successful club apparently isn't enough. No, they also have to try to plunder other clubs for the best free agents in the land. It also doesn't help that they ran off with our father-son pick. There is no chance of Bull providing us with a first round compo pick if he leaves. Mightn't even be end of first round compo, which would probably still be above $750k per year under the new CBA.

 

[Passmore]

I’ll personally be very surprised if he leaves. Is extremely settled in Melbourne. His best mates are at the club. He’s inseparable with Grif, CT, Tucker, Souv, Fish etc. Only way I can see him leaving is if we were to have a David Noble year.

His management will just be trying the best long term deal they can out of us. They held off last time also to maximise the contract $$$.

And he gives Jason shit for bailing and then turn around and do the same thing....

Simpkin and Larkey were up for the challenge. McKay wasn't. We'll see where Zurhaar sits.

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[nelroo]

And he gives Jason s**t for bailing and then turn around and do the same thing....

Simpkin and Larkey were up for the challenge. McKay wasn't. We'll see where Zurhaar sits.

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No, he gave Jason shit for being a shit bloke. He and alot of others were happy to see the back of him.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

I *ing hate Sydney.

Sydney, Bombers, Port. Nothing worse.

 

[Passmore]

Sydney, Bombers, Port. Nothing worse.

Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond, Geelong, etc

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[Passmore]

No, he gave Jason s**t for being a s**t bloke. He and alot of others were happy to see the back of him.

I'm sure they were.

I'm sure if he had of committed to the club opinion might have changed.

We'll see if Zurhaar is made of the right stuff on due course.

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[zoomba23]

And he gives Jason s**t for bailing and then turn around and do the same thing....

Simpkin and Larkey were up for the challenge. McKay wasn't. We'll see where Zurhaar sits.

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Feel like your posts have been weirdly critical of him without much cause.

I don't think he can be blamed for not having signed on yet even though he's made 'sick of losing' comments. He is and has been in a historically bad team, and frankly one of the least of our worries during that time. If he wants to wait and see if things get better for the team before extending, he's absolutely entitled to it.

For every Jy and Larkey, there are three times as many less fanatical blokes with more normal tolerance levels of losing. Anyone pretending as if the 2020-2023 trough this club experienced was nothing more than the standard struggles of a rebuilding club is delusional.

If I, a mere supporter, was turning up to the footy every second week numb to the inevitable 50 point loss, imagine the numbness of the players. Feeling the weeks ebb away, with no light in sight. That's not why they play footy.

If he wants to see if there's a whiff of those dark times still lying in wait for him and the team in 2024, that's his prerogative. Absolutely no doubts he'll sign on if the team looks better than it has. Which I think it will

 

[Passmore]

Feel like your posts have been weirdly critical of him without much cause.

I don't think he can be blamed for not having signed on yet even though he's made 'sick of losing' comments. He is and has been in a historically bad team, and frankly one of the least of our worries during that time. If he wants to wait and see if things get better for the team before extending, he's absolutely entitled to it.

For every Jy and Larkey, there are three times as many less fanatical blokes with more normal tolerance levels of losing. Anyone pretending as if the 2020-2023 trough this club experienced was nothing more than the standard struggles of a rebuilding club is delusional.

If I, a mere supporter, was turning up to the footy every second week numb to the inevitable 50 point loss, imagine the numbness of the players. Feeling the weeks ebb away, with no light in sight. That's not why they play footy.

If he wants to see if there's a whiff of those dark times still lying in wait for him and the team in 2024, that's his prerogative. Absolutely no doubts he'll sign on if the team looks better than it has. Which I think it will

It’s his life, he can do what he likes.

I’m sick of the whole “wah, wah, poor <insert player name>, they must be so sick of losing”.

If you’re good enough, and have the intestinal fortitude, knuckle down and be part of the solution. These blokes have the best coach of the modern era plus a staff he’s picked. Excellent facilities.

This is not directed at Zurhaar alone. All of them. McKay wasn’t up for it. Larkey and Simpkin are. Whoever is not up for the challenge, best they leave.

 

[zoomba23]

It’s his life, he can do what he likes.

I’m sick of the whole “wah, wah, poor <insert player name>, they must be so sick of losing”.

If you’re good enough, and have the intestinal fortitude, knuckle down and be part of the solution. These blokes have the best coach of the modern era plus a staff he’s picked. Excellent facilities.

This is not directed at Zurhaar alone. All of them. McKay wasn’t up for it. Larkey and Simpkin are. Whoever is not up for the challenge, best they leave.

You're just forgetting that they're human, that's all. Yes, they now have a great coach at the helm. But that's only after years of what was essentially footballing trauma. It's natural to want to protect yourself from further distress after such a long period of it.

I remember the red haze that enveloped my head as a kid in a woeful domestic basketball team that took a season and a half to get a draw with another team, and a further half season to get a win. I remember it as vividly as the only pennant I ever won. I wouldn't be shocked at all if losing at such a constant, unrelenting rate alters the brain.

I'd say the good nick that he's rocked up in suggests he wants things to change and is willing to put in the hard yards. But it's on everyone. Hopefully that collective sense of wanting to tangibly improve has fully taken hold and we see its fruits in their performances

 

[Passmore]

You're just forgetting that they're human, that's all. Yes, they now have a great coach at the helm. But that's only after years of what was essentially footballing trauma. It's natural to want to protect yourself from further distress after such a long period of it.

I remember the red haze that enveloped my head as a kid in a woeful domestic basketball team that took a season and a half to get a draw with another team, and a further half season to get a win. I remember it as vividly as the only pennant I ever won. I wouldn't be shocked at all if losing at such a constant, unrelenting rate alters the brain.

I'd say the good nick that he's rocked up in suggests he wants things to change and is willing to put in the hard yards. But it's on everyone. Hopefully that collective sense of wanting to tangibly improve has fully taken hold and we see its fruits in their performances

Hopefully he’s one that wants to do something about getting his club up the ladder.

 

[KillaKanga]

Gut feel is he stays. He will try to squeeze every penny out of the club. As is his right. They only get this pay cheque for a finiite amount of years. If it means he's spurred on to play better to more $$$ fine as long as he continues to play at that level once the contract is signed.

 

[R00StaR]

You're just forgetting that they're human, that's all. Yes, they now have a great coach at the helm. But that's only after years of what was essentially footballing trauma. It's natural to want to protect yourself from further distress after such a long period of it.

I remember the red haze that enveloped my head as a kid in a woeful domestic basketball team that took a season and a half to get a draw with another team, and a further half season to get a win. I remember it as vividly as the only pennant I ever won. I wouldn't be shocked at all if losing at such a constant, unrelenting rate alters the brain.

I'd say the good nick that he's rocked up in suggests he wants things to change and is willing to put in the hard yards. But it's on everyone. Hopefully that collective sense of wanting to tangibly improve has fully taken hold and we see its fruits in their performances

I find it more natural to get harder and harder in my resolve to be part of the solution.
Of course thats provided my contribution is in align with my peers, if it were too low then id take it they consider me part of the problem and id move on and prove them wrong. That doesnt mean taking the most money, just paid fairly what those around me are getting.
That said there is one other curve ball and its the one McKay took. If he's offered massive overs, sets himself up for life and gives the club overs in compo then i might be more of the mindset it could be a win/win for me and the club.
I dont begrudge McKay one bit tbh given he netted us a top 3 pick. If all we wouldve got was say pick 12 id like to think he might've been more inclined to stay. I know it would be one of the factors i took into account.

 

[R00StaR]

Gut feel is he stays. He will try to squeeze every penny out of the club. As is his right. They only get this pay cheque for a finiite amount of years. If it means he's spurred on to play better to more $$$ fine as long as he continues to play at that level once the contract is signed.

The difficultly is we have a number of players who can play his role, perhaps not quite as good but it does limit our top end offer. Swans are always flushed and can offer massive overs, inflating the market all over the place.

 

[Psicosis]

The difficultly is we have a number of players who can play his role, perhaps not quite as good but it does limit our top end offer. Swans are always flushed and can offer massive overs, inflating the market all over the place.

Yeah but none of them are getting big money next couple years. Meanwhile we cannot afford to lose another player approaching their prime. So we will front load it and he will stay.

 

[Sphynx]

The elephant in the room here is that if a player puts contract talks on hold for a big chunk of the season, 9 times out of 10 they have left.

Like I said with McKay 12 months ago, it will come down to the team performance. Zurhaar has been here 7 years now in a side that has done absolutely **** all.

You can’t expect every player to waste their career away in bottom 4 sides.

Regarding him in isolation, we have ALOT of medium forward talent. For Band 1 (I think that highly unlikely given the cap increase), I’d be inclined to let him go.

Our supporters will appreciate it in time, but Sausage does pretty everything Cam does to a much higher level.

Then there’s Duursma, PC, Stevo, Cooper etc

If we could snare the best key forward or back in the draft for CZ, a ruthless GM would do it.

 

[The Nostradamus]

^CZ signed late last time and stayed
He’s not one to rush it

 

[zoomba23]

The elephant in the room here is that if a player puts contract talks on hold for a big chunk of the season, 9 times out of 10 they have left.

Like I said with McKay 12 months ago, it will come down to the team performance. Zurhaar has been here 7 years now in a side that has done absolutely * all.

You can’t expect every player to waste their career away in bottom 4 sides.

Regarding him in isolation, we have ALOT of medium forward talent. For Band 1 (I think that highly unlikely given the cap increase), I’d be inclined to let him go.

Our supporters will appreciate it in time, but Sausage does everything Cam does to a much higher level.

Then there’s Duursma, PC, Stevo, Cooper etc

If we could snare the best key forward or back in the draft for CZ, a ruthless GM would do it.

Didn't every other semi-decent free agent re-sign emphatically with their clubs last year? After the bye? Where's this logic coming from?

And that Sausage prediction is absolute conjecture. I don't care if you're a draft watcher. It wasn't Sausage that held up his end of the bargain in a putrid forward line for years on end. We know jack shit about how his career will pan out, even if we're all encouraged.

I do not want to waste the 20s of Larkey, Simpkin, LDU, and Zurhaar. We have to be competing by the end of next year. And we have to have markedly improved week to week by the end of this one. Or the last two blokes I mentioned will leave. And set us back another few years. Sod any ideals of club loyalty, we need to get real. They've already been running in quicksand for too long.

Of course, my essay is pointless if CZ wants out. But this draft pick talk grates me. We're not exactly swimming in seniority. And last time I checked, the aim of this comp was to win a flag, which is far more easily done with a solid senior core. The aim is not to accumulate the most top 5 picks

 

[Junk yard]

You're just forgetting that they're human, that's all. Yes, they now have a great coach at the helm. But that's only after years of what was essentially footballing trauma. It's natural to want to protect yourself from further distress after such a long period of it.

I remember the red haze that enveloped my head as a kid in a woeful domestic basketball team that took a season and a half to get a draw with another team, and a further half season to get a win. I remember it as vividly as the only pennant I ever won. I wouldn't be shocked at all if losing at such a constant, unrelenting rate alters the brain.

I'd say the good nick that he's rocked up in suggests he wants things to change and is willing to put in the hard yards. But it's on everyone. Hopefully that collective sense of wanting to tangibly improve has fully taken hold and we see its fruits in their performances

Normally you just post tripe, night off the piss?

 

[Scottroo]

It irritates me that the narrative around our players leaving is they want to win, if these players were good enough or more importantly more consistent then we’d start to win our fair share amount of games. Zurhaar is a good player, if he goes to the next level, like Larkey last year, the skies the limit.

 

[Sphynx]

Didn't every other semi-decent free agent re-sign emphatically with their clubs last year? After the bye? Where's this logic coming from?

And that Sausage prediction is absolute conjecture. I don't care if you're a draft watcher. It wasn't Sausage that held up his end of the bargain in a putrid forward line for years on end. We know jack s**t about how his career will pan out, even if we're all encouraged.

I do not want to waste the 20s of Larkey, Simpkin, LDU, and Zurhaar. We have to be competing by the end of next year. And we have to have markedly improved week to week by the end of this one. Or the last two blokes I mentioned will leave. And set us back another few years. Sod any ideals of club loyalty, we need to get real. They've already been running in quicksand for too long.

Of course, my essay is pointless if CZ wants out. But this draft pick talk grates me. We're not exactly swimming in seniority. And last time I checked, the aim of this comp was to win a flag, which is far more easily done with a solid senior core. The aim is not to accumulate the most top 5 picks

Well, not many of them formally put contract talks on hold.

And in my example I'd only want to lose him for maximum value. He's a good player but hardly an absolute game changer to a quality side. Collingwood just picked up a bloke just as good as him this offseason for what is basically Pick 25 & pick 45. He's not irreplaceable and we have numerous amounts of young talented medium forwards already on the list. He's a solid role player. How many would even have him in our best 5 players right now?

And in fairness to your post, I also read 500+ posts this time last year all along the same lines regarding McKay. "We can't lose McKay", "We need to win now, losing buckets will set back our rebuild by 5 years" etc etc

It's also easy to brush off alternative options as faceless draft picks. It's not so easy when they have a name to them.

How many of you would trade 18 year old Zane Duursma for Ben McKay or Cam Zurhaar now. Approximately 0 would be my guess.

How many of you would trade 19 year old George Wardlaw for Ben McKay or Cam Zurhaar now. Approximately 0 would be my guess.


Both of whom are as much if not more likely to contribute to "winning now" as both Cam and Ben would have or will do in the next 18 months and onwards anyway imo.


This isn't an obsession with draft picks, it's being realistic about how good some of our senior core actually are. Cam has done the hard yards, but I'm not advocating trading him, he would be leaving us in every scenario I am talking about.


If Cam was truly committed to the path of the football club, he would have re-signed by now. His management have issued a press release, he's at the very least considering his options. Most recent history would indicate seriously considering other offers if he has put contract talks on hold via the media.

 

[spurs]

Sydney, Bombers, Port. Nothing worse.

West Coast

 

[amaz199]

He did the same thing last time, didn't he?

 

[Shegga]

Agreed in that Zurhaar is perfect age and we can't afford to lose our stars in that age bracket. Unfortunately he is no star. Undersize mark kick player, struggles to bring others into game, often crashes into other fwds. Ford, Curtis, Duursma, Sellers, George, great options that all could be comparable as him this year in his position. Not a good mid, poor handballer lacking that vision you need in centre square. I would think about him as 2nd ruck. Good leap and would give us something different if CCJ not grabbing opportunities. I wouldn't rush to sign him on big contract.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Agreed in that Zurhaar is perfect age and we can't afford to lose our stars in that age bracket. Unfortunately he is no star. Undersize mark kick player, struggles to bring others into game, often crashes into other fwds. Ford, Curtis, Duursma, Sellers, George, great options that all could be comparable as him this year in his position. Not a good mid, poor handballer lacking that vision you need in centre square. I would think about him as 2nd ruck. Good leap and would give us something different if CCJ not grabbing opportunities. I wouldn't rush to sign him on big contract.

Undersize forward so you would try him in the ruck.

Awesome.